Apparatus for supplying additives to lubricating system



R. A- VOGEL 2,898,902

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING ADDITIVES TO LUBRICATING SYSTEM Aug. 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17. 1954 INVENTOR. la/7 A I/oge/ Ma i ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING ADDITIVES TO LUBRICATING SYSTEM Ralph A. Vog'el, Columbus, Ohio Application August 17, 1954, Serial No. 450,488

1 Claim. (Cl. 123-196) The present invention relates to apparatus for intermittently adding substantially uniform quantities of an additive to the lubricating system of an internal combustion engine or the like.

The advantages of supplying additives to lubricating oil for engines are well established and generally known, but the use of such additives, in many instances, is never instituted, and in other instances, not systematically adhered to, due to the time and trouble involved in opening and pouring conventional container of additives into the crankcase of the engine. This is particularly true in the case of motor vehicles where, although many drivers are aware of the advantages and use additives for the lubrieating systems of their vehicles, they very often neglect systematic use of such products whereby the full beneficial advantages thereof are only partially realized.

For the purpose of eliminating the above specified disadvantages, the present invention provides an apparatus for automatically supplying substantially uniform charges of an additive to the lubricating system of an engine. Moreover, the apparatus is adapted for automatic actuation responsive to an operational characteristic of the engine to which the additive is being supplied. To accomplish this purpose, the apparatus can be rendered operatively responsive to starting of the engine of a motor vehicle. With this arrangement, not only is an appropriate charge of additive supplied without requiring the thought or attention of the driver, but an additional advantage is realized in that a fresh charge of additive is presented to the engine each time it is started to provide effective protection for the engine during the warm-up period at which time the advantages furnished by an additive are most needed by the engine.

The present apparatus consists generally of a reservoir means which is preferably in the form of a continer which can be readily removed from the apparatus for replacement when empty. The apparatus also includes liquid translating mechanism for moving charges of an additive from the reservoir means to the lubricating system of the engine towhich the apparatus is connected. In addition, fluid metering means is provided for effecting volumetric uniformityof the successive charges of additive.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the type described which comprises a novel liquid translating means of simple and inexpensive construction, which means efliciently discharges substantially uniform charges of an additive without-the use of movable valve parts or seats.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the type described which includes novel liquid translating means wherein a piston and a cylinder are employed for discharging substantially uniform charges of fluid from the reservoir, and wherein the stroke of said piston is readily adjustable for varying the volume of the charge ,of additive-translated by the liquid translating means in effecting a cycle of operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide 2 apparatus of the type described which includes novel liquid metering means adapted to increase the degree of volumetric uniformity in the successive charges of liquid dispensed from the apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the type described which includes novel liquid metering means which is readily adjustable for precisely varying the volume of the charges expelled from the apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for apparatus of the type described, a novel combination reservoir return conduit and fluid level indicating means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the type described which comprises a fluid reservoir means in the form of a removeably mounted container, and novel mounting means for mounting the container to the apparatus whereby such container can be readily removed and replaced when empty.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the type described which comprises fluid reservoir means in the form of a removably mounted container, and novel mounting means adapted to automatically pierce thecontainer and connect fluid discharge conduit with the interior thereof simultaneously with the mounting of such container on the apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the type described which comprises a reservoir formed as a removable container, and novel mounting-means for retaining the container on the apparatus, with such mounting means being adapted to automatically form and cover an air hole in the container as a result of actuation of such mounting in effecting the mounting of the containerto the apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the apparatus of the present invention-mounted on a motor vehicle;

Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating the liquid flow circuit of the apparatus of the preceding figures;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a fluid translating mechanism constructed according to the present invention and which forms a portion of the apparatus of the preceding figures, with the section being taken substantially along the line 6-.6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a sectionalview of a portion of a container mounting means constructed according to the present invention and which forms a portion of the apparatus of the preceding figures, with the section being taken substantially along the line 77 of Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a fluid metering means constructed according to the present invention and which forms a portion of the apparatus of the preceding figures, with the section being taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus constructed according to the present invention which apparatus includes a frame indicated generally at 20. The frame 20 includes a lower housing portion 21 which includes a top surface 24. A container mounting block 26 is carried on the surface 2.4, and a seal 28 is carried on the upper surface thereof. Seal 28 is formed of yieldable or resilient material and is provided with an uppen surface which supports a removably mounted container 30 at the bottom end 32 of the latter.

The top of the frame 20 is provided with a front surface 34 and a pair of outwardly extending flanges 36, which flanges pivotally support a lever 38 at the pivot pin 39 carried by the flanges 36. The lever 38 includes an arm 41 pivotally mounted to a second arm 42 at a pivot pin 43. Arm 41 includes a piercing element 46 adapted to piercea hollow protrusion 48 formed on the top end 50 of the container 30. Upon actuation of the lever 38, by manual movement of the arm 42 downwardly, the arm 41 is drivendownwardly whereby the piercing element 46 pierces an air hole in the container protrusion 48. The arm 41 of the lever 38 is further provided with a cover portion 52 which serves to cover the air hole pierced by the piercing portion 46 to prevent rain water from entering the air hole after the container has been pierced and locked in position.

With particular reference to Figure 7, when lever 38 is actuated, the container will be driven downwardly against and pierced by a sharpened piercing portion 54 formed on the upper end of a vertically extending tube 55 which tube extends downwardly into a bore 56 in the support member 26, with the tube 55 communicating with a horizontally extending passage 58. The horizontally extending passage 58 and the vertical tube 55 serve as a fluid return line which functions in a manner later to be described herein. A vertically extending fluid outlet tube 60 extends vertically upwardly within the tube 55 with the outer wall of outlet tube 60' being spaced from the inner wall of the tube 55 to form an annular passage which serves as part of the fluid return line.

After the bottom wall 32 of the container has been pierced by the piercing portion 54, and upon further actuation of the lever 38, the container 30 will be driven downwardly whereby the bottom 32 of the container is forced against an upper surface 59 of the seal 28. Seal 28 will be compressed downwardly and retained in compressed configuration to form a seal at the junction of the piercing tube 55 and the bottom 32 of the container. In actuating the lever 38 downwardly, to the lower limit of its movement, such lever will produce a wedging action on the container 30 and move past a dead center position into the locked position illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring next to Figures 1 and 2, a fluid translating mechanism is mounted in the lower casing portion 21 and indicated generally at 66. The construction of the fluid translating mechanism 66 is illustrated in detail in the enlarged view thereof shown in Figure 6. Such mechanism includes a cylinder 68 which slidably carries a piston 69. Llqllld is transported from the container 30, through the outlet tube 60, and then through an intake port 70 to the intake end of the cylinder 68. The fluid then flows through a by-pass around the piston 69 which by-pass is formed by clearance between the outer wall of piston 69 and the inner wall of the cylinder 68. Fluid passing the piston flows into a chamber 72 formed by the inner walls of the cylinder 68 and an end wall 73 of the piston. An outlet port 75 communicates with a tube 76 which leads to a fluid metering apparatus indicated generally at 77 and described in detail later herein. For the purpose of longitudinally locating the piston 69, suitable stop means, such as the shoulder 74, is positioned to engage the end 78 of the piston, and a spring 80 is retained in compressed configuration between the other end 73 of the piston and the cylinder end wall 82, with such spring serving to constantly urge the piston 69 towards the normal position illustrated in Figure 6.

With further reference to Figure 6, a solenoid coil 85 is prov1ded for actuating the piston, with such solenoid coil being provided with an inner surface 86 in sliding engagement with the outer surface of the cylinder 68. As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, a threaded element 87 is provided for locking the solenoid coil in various positions of longitudlnal adjustment, with such threaded element 87 extfi ing through a transverse slot 88 in the lower casing 21.- The inner end of the threaded element 87 is screwed into a hole in the solenoid coil so that when the threadedelement 87 is loosened, the solenoid coil 85 can be moved longitudinally, in the direction of the axis of the cylinder 68, to various positions of adjustment after which the threaded element is tightened to lock the solenoid in a new position of adjustment. Such longitudinal movement of the solenoid coil, relative to the cylinder, and hence relative to the normal position of the piston illustrated in Figure 6, serves to vary the stroke to which the piston 69 is extended when the solenoid coil is electrically actuated. Actuation of the solenoid coil is effected by closing a switch 98 which is disposed intermediate the solenoid and a source of electrical energy 91. When the solenoid coil 85 is energized, due to the magnetic properties of the solenoid, the piston 69, which is formed of magnetic material to form a core for the solenoid, will be moved longitudinally in the cylinder against the action of the spring 80. Such movement of the piston serves to expel a charge of liquid from the chamber 72.

Motion is imparted to the piston 69 when the solenoid coil 85 is energized, since the center of mass 93 of the piston is magnetically urged towards coincidence with the magnetic center 94 of the solenoid coil 85. It will therefore be understood that when the solenoid coil 85 is moved longitudinally along the cylinder to various positions of adjustment, the magnetic center 94 of such solenoid is moved a corresponding amount. Hence the position towards which the piston 69 is magnetically urged is moved so as to change the stroke of the piston 69. When the stroke of piston 69 is changed by such adjustment, the charge of fluid which the piston expels in a single stroke, will be varied in a corresponding amount.

Proceeding along the circuit of fluid travel, when a charge of fluid is expelled from the fluid translating apparatus 66, it will pass outwardly through a tube 76 and into the previously mentioned fluid metering apparatus indicated generally at 77, in Figure 5, and shown in enlarged relationship in the sectional view of Figure 8.

Such metering apparatus 77 includes a chamber 98 formed as bore in a casing portion 99. The upper portion of the chamber wall is provided with a threaded portion 100 which receives a threaded plug 102 that forms a top for the chamber 98. An air hole 103 extends through plug 102 to the interior of chamber 98, and such plug is provided with a lower plug portion 105 which extends well down into the chamber 98 and is spaced from the walls thereof. With this arrangement, the volume of chamber 98 can be critically controlled by merely screwing the plug 102 upwardly and downwardly relative to the casing 99.

With continued reference to Figure 8, the intake tube 76, from the fluid translating mechanism 66, passes through the side wall of the casing 99 near the top thereof. In a like manner, a fluid overflow tube 108 has its upper end extended through the wall of the casing 99 near the upper end thereof and is thereby adapted to serve as a fluid outlet when fluid is present in chamber 98 above a predetermined level thereof.

The fluid overflow tube 108 is provided with a vertically extending transparent tube 110, which may be formed of transparent plastic or the like, and which forms a visual indicator showing the level of the fluid in the container 30. The lower end of the transparent tube 110 communicates with the fluid return passage 58, in the container mounting block 26, as is best seen in Figure 7.

Referring again to Figure 8, it will be noted that the chamber 98 is also provided with a fluid discharge tube which passes through the bottom wall of the casing 99. Such fluid discharge tube 115 has its outlet end connected with the lubricating system of the engine to which charges of additives are supplied as is best seen in Figure 4.

When the liquid translating apparatus 66 is actuated, a charge of liquid will be delivered into the chamber 98 of liquid metering apparatus 77, and if the volume of such charge of liquid is suflicient to extend above the level of the overflow port 104, liquid will immediately pass out of such port and return to the container 30. Liquid will also start to leave chamber 98 through the dis charge port 105, but since the area of discharge port 105 is relatively small, as compared to the area of overflow port 104, the excess volume of fluid in the charge will rapidly be removed through the overflow port 104 before any appreciable amount of the fluid charges leaves the discharge port 105. This is due to the fact that the rate of volumetric discharge from the overflow port 104, with respect to time, is substantially greater than the rate of volumetric discharge firom the smaller discharge port 105.

With continued reference to Figure 8, it will be noted that when plug 102 is screwed downwardly, the volume of chamber 98 will be decreased, and when plug 102 is screwed upwardly the volume of such chamber will be increased. Hence for any given volume of charge delivered to chamber 98 by the liquid translating apparatus 66, and when plug 102 is disposed at an upper position of adjustment, a relatively large portion, or perhaps all, of such charge will be received 'by the chamber, without being passed out of overflow port 104. When plug 102 is at a lower position of adjustment, however, the portion of the above mentioned charge which can be received in chamber 98, below overflow port 104, is relatively small.

With reference to Figure 4, the apparatus of the present invention may be mounted to a motor vehicle by bolting the casing 20 of the apparatus to a suitable portion of the vehicle such as the firewall 120. A wire 126 is connected between the present apparatus and the engine starter 123, such that the switch for the starter efiects an electrical connection between the automotive battery and the actuating solenoid coil 85 of the present apparatus. A second wire extends from the actuating solenoid coil 85, in the apparatus, to a suitable electrical ground connection with the vehicle.

With further reference to Figure 4, it will he noted that the fluid discharge line 115 for the apparatus leads to the vehicle engine 121 and is connected with the lubricating system in some suitable manner. For example, the fluid discharge line 115 can be connected to com,- municate with the crankcase 128 through the side wall of the oil filler tube 130.

Hence, when the starter of the vehicle is energized, the fluid translating apparatus 66 will be actuated through a cycle whereby piston 69 is moved by magnetic action of solenoid coil 85. This causes a charge of fluid to be delivered to the chamber of the liquid metering apparatus 77. A metered charge of liquid will then flow through the discharge line 115 to the lubricating system of the engine 121.

Asa charge of liquid is displaced from the chamber 72 of the liquid translating apparatus 66, a replacement volume of liquid will flow from the container 30, under the action of gravity, and into the cylinder of the liquid translating apparatus. The apparatus is then ready for a subsequent discharge cycle.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claim which follows.

I claim:

In combination, an engine having a lubricating system, an electric starter for the engine, a lubricating oil additive reservoir, means to support said reservoir, pump means positioned below said reservoir for pumping the additive therefrom, said pump means including an elongated casing having inlet and outlet means at opposite ends thereof, and spring loaded piston means positioned within said casing and axially movable therein, said piston means being slightly spaced from the internal wall of said casing to form a by-pass, first conduit means connecting said reservoir to said inlet opening of said pump means, metering means positioned above said reservoir for controlling the amount of additive to be dispensed, second conduit means connected at one end to the discharge opening of the pump means and at the other end to the inlet side of said metering means, third conduit means connecting the outlet side of said metering means to the lubricating system of the engine, overflow conduit means connected to said metering means at one end thereof and at the opposite end thereof to said first conduit means, and solenoid means connected to said casing of said pump means for actuation of pump piston, said solenoid means electrically coupled to said starter whereby upon actuation of said starter the solenoid will move the piston means of the pump means to pump the additive to the metering means and then to the lubricating system.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 920,769 Manzel May 4, 1909 1,304,149 Blanchard May 20, 1919 1,576,497 Austin Mar. 16, 1926 1,635,563 Sanford July 12, 1927 1,905,179 Locke Apr. 25, 1933 1,914,900 Tarbox June 20, 1933 1,961,514 Ernst June 5, 1934 1,987,256 Johnson Ian. 8, 1935 2,048,323 Cutts July 21, 1936 2,159,656 Focht May 23, 1939 2,194,007 Clementson Mar. 19, 1940 2,232,620 Meeks Feb. 18, 1941 2,345,606 Jones Apr. 9, 1944 2,370,653 Gallo Mar. 6, 1945 2,499,784 Schmidt Mar. 7, 1950 2,674,343 Malerrne Apr. 6, 1954 2,705,458 Sunden Apr. 5, 1955 2,722,210 Koonce Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,748 Great Britain of 1892 284,492 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1928 275,259 Great Britain Mar. 8, 1928 818,338 France June 14, 1937 123,763 Australia Mar. 5, 1947 

